Running News Daily

In 2021—for the first time in World Marathon Major history—two of the biggest races in the world took place on back-to-back days. 26,112 runners crossed the finish line at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 10, while even more tackled Heartbreak Hill at the Boston Marathon on Monday, October 11. 

While most runners chose one or the other, California-native Matt Salminen had a different thought: why not run both?

Salminen, 32, has run nearly two dozen marathons, but he has special connections to Boston and Chicago. He lived in Boston for six years, completing five Boston Marathons for the Heartbreakers, the running club associated with the Heartbreak Hill Running Company. Salminen has run the last three iterations of the Chicago Marathon as well, also representing the Heartbreak Hill Running Company—which had recently opened up stores in the Windy City.

Friday, October 8: Travel to Chicago

Afternoon—Irvine, California

As many people know, the carb-load starts about two to three days before a marathon. So on my way to the airport and on the plane to Chicago, I made sure keep hydrated and eat snacks. 

My training block coming into these two marathons was a little bit different. Typically, I train for five to six months per training cycle. In this case, I was doing around the same time period of training, but I incorporated a lot of back-to-back long runs. This is a challenge that not many people take. It’s something that you have to train your body for.

My fastest time in the marathon is 2:38, so I was thinking it would be a good challenge to try to do both marathons under 2:45.

Evening—Chicago, Illinois

After landing, I went to a local restaurant, picked up pasta with sauce and bread, ate as much as I could, drank lots of water, and then went to sleep really, really early. 

Saturday, October 9—The Day Before

Morning

I did a quick shakeout run in the morning around 9 a.m. My legs felt good. I didn’t have any major injuries during training, so I felt pretty fresh.

I went to the Chicago Marathon expo around 11 a.m. This year was a bit different from past years because of COVID-19. They had the same bib pickup at McCormick Place, but it took over an hour to get through the vaccine check. It really held up the lines, so I spent more time than usual at the expo, but definitely worth the experience. 

Evening

 

In the evening after eating some more, I mentally planned my race, set up my race outfit, used my massage gun, and wished my friends good luck. I went to bed early.

Sunday, October 10—The Chicago Marathon

Morning

I felt a little nervous when I woke up for the marathon, considering all the months of training that I put in. I felt like, how am I going to do in these two marathons, considering they’re on back-to-back days? My best workout was two 20-mile long runs back-to-back, which gave me a lot of confidence that I could handle the distance. 

I had three Maurten gels before the race, and I was ready to go. I had everything I needed. 

The race started at 7:30 a.m., and I ran the first half pretty comfortably. The second half felt even more comfortable; I felt like I was just in rhythm. My training did really help; I felt like my endurance was there, and I took my gels at the right time. I ended up finishing 2:44:16, which put me in 200th place. I felt pretty good about it.

 

A lot of people talked about the weather in Chicago. I was sweating after the first couple miles, but so was everyone else. A lot of my good friends had a hard time. I was relatively fortunate that I did hold back because of Boston the next day. Conditions were definitely not ideal, but I was happy to finish and not overdo it. 

Late morning

 

I think the most important aspect of the race is not only doing it, but finishing, and then making sure I was recovering as soon as possible. I didn’t know how my body was going to react. After running the first marathon, how can I run the second?

So after the first race, I immediately went back to the hotel, took a shower, cleaned up a little bit, used my massage gun, and took in a lot of fluids and electrolytes before leaving for the airport. 

People asked me what I would eat after Chicago but before Boston—and I wasn’t planning on stuffing my face. For me, it was more important to replenish by drinking more liquids, because I didn’t want to eat too much the day before running Boston. I had a little pasta, but I took in much more electrolyte drinks. My stomach was a little unsettled after finishing Chicago, so I think it helped. 

Evening—Boston, Massachusetts

I booked a flight as early as I could to get from Chicago to Boston. My flight left around 1 p.m., and when I landed, I went straight to pick up my bib around 5 p.m.

After I checked into my hotel, I made sure that I had enough time to get in more fluids and nutrition, put my legs up, set up everything I need to go in the morning, and get my mind ready. My quads felt sore, but I knew I felt like this during training. The weather was nice and cool, and I was pretty excited. I felt like I still had enough in the tank to give it a go.

I lived in Boston for six years, so being back, I knew I couldn’t back out of it. I had to do it.

Monday, October 11—The Boston Marathon

Morning

 

I caught the bus to the start line in Hopkinton at 7:15 a.m., and the race started at 9 a.m. I ran the first 10k thinking, let's see how the legs feel. I thought that under 2:50 would be an attainable goal. If I can hit the same time that I had in Chicago, that would be my all-time goal. 

At the halfway mark at Wellesley tunnel, I was on pace for 2:50 to 2:52. My legs felt okay, but I was wondering if I could last another 13 miles because I’ve never run this much distance before. I remained confident, believing in the miles I did in training.

Around mile 17, when you start the Newton hills, I knew that my legs were going to take a lot of pounding. But I also knew that I've been training so hard for this, and I ran Boston in the past, and that you need to attack these hills to get them done. So that’s when I started to cut my pace down.

I conquered Heartbreak Hill, and pushed the pace after that; I got so excited that I felt so good and my legs were still moving, and I ran my last mile in 5:35. I ended up finishing the marathon in 2:49:05—under 2:50, which I planned. Not the same time as in Chicago, but definitely a good time after already running one marathon.

 

I was psyched to have a strong finish on Boylston Street. I saw a lot of friends and fellow runners on the road. I thought to myself, wow, I’ve accomplished so much. This was a challenge that meant a lot to me. It might not ever happen again in the future. Crossing that Boston finish line brought back a lot of memories of crossing Boston, but also realizing that I’ve done something that I didn't believe that I could do.

Evening

I celebrated by having a nice cold beer with some old friends from Boston, and watching the Red Sox win their playoff game.

I felt great, through all the training, logistics, flights, and races—I’m happy I put so much effort and time into it. Anyone that runs marathon majors has their own story, and I feel like this story is special to who I am as a runner. 

Tuesday, October 12 — The Day After

Instead of going home to Irvine, I’m flying to France for vacation. My legs feel rough, but I don’t have any races coming up soon. I expected to break down a little bit, but I’m happy to have the battle scars.

 

Thinking back on my weekend, it felt great to be able to run these races and go back to normalcy. It's been over two years since Chicago and Boston were run. For everyone to be on the same roads running these races again and celebrating together, I felt a sense of unity. Marathons are back! 

 

Most Olympic marathoners spend their youth focused on running. They join track clubs, compete in national championships, and pursue the sport from an early age.

Julia Mayer’s journey was very different.

Today, Mayer is Austria’s marathon record holder, a multiple national record holder on the roads, and an Olympian. Yet for much of her athletic life, running was not her primary sport.

For 16 years, she played soccer.

Then she discovered something that would change her life.

“I noticed that I was really fast in the fun runs and that it was really, really fun,” Mayer said when reflecting on her transition from soccer to distance running.

What began as curiosity quickly became a passion. She eventually made the bold decision to leave soccer behind and focus entirely on running. It was a move that surprised many people around her, but Mayer believed she had found her true athletic calling.

The decision proved to be the right one.

Within a few years, Mayer developed into one of Europe’s top marathon runners. Her steady improvement carried her from local races to the international stage, where she began rewriting Austria’s record books.

She now holds Austrian records in the marathon, half marathon, and road 10K. Her marathon best of 2:26:08 established her as the fastest female marathoner in Austrian history. Her performances in the half marathon and 10K have further cemented her place among the country’s all-time great distance runners.

Her rise culminated with qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Competing in the Olympic marathon represented the realization of a dream. On one of the most challenging marathon courses ever used for the Olympics, Mayer ran courageously against the strongest field in the world and finished 55th in her Olympic debut.

Behind the scenes, success has come through extraordinary dedication. During marathon preparation, Mayer trains twice a day and covers approximately 200 kilometers, or 124 miles, each week. The workload demands discipline, patience, and a deep commitment to continuous improvement. 

What makes her story especially inspiring is not simply the records or the Olympic appearance.

It is the fact that she found her greatest talent later than many elite runners.

In a sport where athletes are often identified at a young age, Mayer’s journey serves as a reminder that potential does not always reveal itself early. Sometimes it takes years of experience, a willingness to try something new, and the courage to follow a different path. 

The former soccer player who once chased a ball across a field is now chasing history on the roads of Europe.

And according to those closest to her, her best performances may still be ahead.

For runners of every age and ability, Julia Mayer’s story delivers a powerful lesson: it is never too late to discover what you are capable of.

From soccer player to Olympian, her journey proves that remarkable achievements can begin when least expected.

Megan Keith produced the performance of her career in Oslo on Thursday night, shattering one of Scotland’s longest-standing distance running records and cementing her place among Britain’s greatest female 3000m runners.

The 24-year-old clocked a sensational 8:28.35 over 3000m, breaking the Scottish outdoor record that had stood for nearly four decades. In doing so, Keith eclipsed the previous mark of 8:29.02, set by Scottish legend Yvonne Murray back in 1988, ending a record reign that had lasted 38 years.

Keith’s breakthrough run was more than just a national record. The performance also propelled her to third on the UK outdoor all-time list, placing her behind only two of Britain’s most celebrated distance runners — Paula Radcliffe, who leads the rankings with 8:22.20, and Laura Weightman, whose 8:26.07 remains the second-fastest outdoor mark by a British woman.

The significance of Keith’s achievement is amplified by the calibre of athletes she now joins in the record books. For decades, Murray’s mark stood as one of Scottish athletics’ most untouchable records, surviving generations of elite competitors. Keith has now succeeded where many outstanding runners have fallen short, announcing herself as one of the leading distance talents in British athletics.

Her time also compares favourably with the best performances produced indoors. Olympic medallist Laura Muir ran 8:26.41 indoors in Karlsruhe in 2017, underlining just how exceptional Keith’s outdoor effort in Oslo truly was.

The run continues a remarkable rise for the Scottish star, whose progression over recent seasons has transformed her from a promising prospect into a genuine force on the international stage. Running with confidence and composure against elite competition, Keith demonstrated both the speed and endurance required to challenge the very best in Europe and beyond.

With the World Championship season gathering momentum, Keith’s record-breaking display sends a powerful message. Not only has she etched her name into Scottish athletics history, but she has also established herself as a serious contender in one of the sport’s most competitive events.

In Oslo, Megan Keith did far more than break a record. She ended a 38-year wait, climbed into the upper echelon of British distance running, and delivered a performance that may prove to be a defining moment in her career.

British middle-distance talent Phoebe Gill took another significant step forward in her return to top form, producing a determined victory over 800 metres at the Meeting de Marseille in France on Wednesday.

Competing in challenging, wind-affected conditions, the 19-year-old demonstrated both resilience and composure as she held off a late charge from Switzerland's Veronica Vancardo to secure the win in 2:00.81. Vancardo finished just three hundredths of a second behind in 2:00.84, underlining the fiercely contested nature of the race.

While the margin of victory was narrow, the result represented another encouraging milestone for Gill as she continues to rebuild momentum following her injury setback. The young Briton showed impressive race awareness and strength in the closing stages, maintaining her advantage despite the difficult conditions that made fast running a challenge throughout the evening.

The Marseille triumph adds to a growing body of evidence that Gill is steadily progressing toward her best form. Earlier in her comeback campaign, she clocked 2:01.50 for 800m in Bydgoszcz before demonstrating her versatility with a strong 4:05.53 performance over 1500 metres at the BMC Grand Prix meeting in Trafford.

Those performances have highlighted not only her improving fitness but also her ability to compete across multiple distances as she carefully builds her season. The Marseille victory now provides further confirmation that the European junior star is moving in the right direction.

Gill emerged as one of Britain's most exciting middle-distance prospects through a series of breakthrough performances as a teenager, earning widespread recognition for her fearless racing style and remarkable maturity. Injury temporarily interrupted that upward trajectory, but her recent results suggest she is steadily rediscovering the form that made her one of the sport's brightest young talents.

With each race, the signs of progress become increasingly evident. Winning in difficult conditions and under pressure from a quality field is often a stronger indicator than a fast time alone, and Gill's latest success demonstrated exactly those qualities.

As the summer season gathers pace, the Marseille victory offers another confidence boost for the British teenager, whose return continues to gain momentum. If her recent progression is any indication, Gill could soon find herself back among the leading names on the European middle-distance circuit. 

The NCAA Track and Field Championships delivered a moment few could have predicted as Ja’Kobe Tharp produced one of the most astonishing performances in the history of sprint hurdling, rewriting the record books in spectacular fashion.

Competing in the opening round of the men’s 110-meter hurdles, the Auburn star stunned the athletics world by clocking an incredible 12.75 seconds, becoming the first athlete ever to break the 12.80-second barrier. In doing so, he eclipsed the long-standing world record of 12.80 set by Aries Merritt in 2012, a mark that had stood as one of the sport’s most revered achievements for more than a decade.

What makes Tharp’s breakthrough even more remarkable is the scale of his improvement. Entering the championships, the defending NCAA and U.S. champion had recorded a season-best of 13.05 seconds. Yet under the brightest spotlight, he unleashed a performance that exceeded every expectation, slicing an extraordinary 0.26 seconds from his personal best in a race that instantly became one of the greatest ever run.

The achievement sent shockwaves throughout the track and field community. While Tharp arrived in Eugene as one of the leading contenders for the NCAA title, few envisioned a performance capable of redefining the limits of the event. Instead, the American hurdler delivered a race for the ages, combining flawless technique, explosive speed, and impeccable rhythm from the first hurdle to the finish line.

The historic run not only secured his place in athletics history but also transformed the outlook of the championship. With the world record now in his possession, Tharp advances to the final as the overwhelming favorite, carrying momentum that could make an already unforgettable weekend even more extraordinary.

For years, the 12.80 barrier appeared untouchable. On a stunning day at the NCAA Championships, Ja’Kobe Tharp proved otherwise, producing the kind of performance that reminds fans why sport remains so unpredictable. In a matter of seconds, he turned a routine qualifying round into a landmark moment that will be remembered for generations.

The world record no one saw coming is now a reality—and Ja’Kobe Tharp is the man who changed history.

A new chapter in middle-distance running may have begun in Oslo after American teenager Cooper Lutkenhaus produced one of the most remarkable performances of the season, narrowly defeating reigning Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi in a thrilling men's 800m contest at the Diamond League meeting.

The 17-year-old sensation shocked a world-class field by crossing the finish line first in a race that came down to the smallest of margins. After an intense battle over the final metres, Lutkenhaus held off Wanyonyi by just one hundredth of a second, producing a dramatic finish that left the packed stadium in disbelief.

From the opening lap, the pace was relentless as the leading contenders positioned themselves for a fierce showdown. As the athletes entered the home straight, Wanyonyi appeared poised to unleash his trademark finishing kick. However, Lutkenhaus refused to be intimidated, matching the Olympic champion stride for stride before producing a perfectly timed lean at the line to secure a historic victory.

The result marks a breakthrough moment for the young American, who continues to establish himself as one of the brightest talents in global athletics. Defeating an Olympic champion at a Diamond League event is a feat many athletes spend entire careers pursuing, yet Lutkenhaus achieved it before reaching adulthood.

For Wanyonyi, the narrow defeat does little to diminish his status as one of the world's premier 800m runners. The Kenyan once again demonstrated his exceptional class and competitiveness, pushing the race to a world-class standard and forcing his young rival to deliver the performance of a lifetime.

Beyond the result itself, the race offered a glimpse into what could become one of the sport's most exciting rivalries in the years ahead. With established stars and emerging talents now pushing each other to new heights, the men's 800m continues to evolve into one of athletics' most captivating events.

On a memorable night in Oslo, the spotlight belonged to Cooper Lutkenhaus. At just 17 years old, he stood toe-to-toe with an Olympic champion and emerged victorious, announcing himself to the athletics world in spectacular fashion.